A wild and wonderful day on Willoughby Bay. Mustered a crew of six at 1400 to find one bum foot, a twisted knee, a pulled Achilles, and several non-descript ailments. Smoothly underway around 1425, headed out into a strong west wind under full main and storm jib. Temps around 60F. With sound system cranked up, we tacked our way out to the Shed enjoying the steady breeze with yelps of delight. Offer of lifejackets to new crewlady met with hostile response. Libations flowed freely and washed down the gourmet Subway subs and trail mix. Blue Captain donned a PFD for fashion's sake and was met with howls of derision. Noted the depthometer only seems to work on a port tack. Routine established: the young folk manned the R&B pub cabin with aplomb while the older types creaked agedly around the cockpit. Gold Captain kept his usual death grip on the tiller beating off all who dared to have a try. Passed the NS Marina's Cero outbound. Broad reaches and two jibes on the way home to a smooth tie up about 1715. A round of Kona's and smiles at the Sunset G. was matched by a bone jarring crash as a fellow barmate missed a chair and hit the deck. Ended the day with a toast to a "mildly entertaining sail".

Friday afternoon with temps in the 80's and a healthy west wind warranted a cruise round Willoughby Bay for several hours. Nicely underway as the clock approached 15:00, the R&B raced around up to the shed and back at over 5 knots. The new sound system (courtesy of the young Beaches) spun golden oldies. The bright sun blazed in low humidity and the world was put aright in no time. The oft visited theme of a sail to Cape Charles was again put forth. Dodging crabpots became an entertaining side show for each of the helmsmen. A thorough discussion of the rules of the road ensued as a few other sailors ventured out. Many improvements to be mentioned: interior woodwork, re-wiring, a new power switch box, deck re-paint all bring the boat to its highest state of readiness ever. We returned at 1815 ish and, after an impressively quick button up, were off to a delicious experimental shrimp dinner.

A delightful mid-day sail with the Hatchard clan. Clear skies, temps in the 80's we cruised around Willoughby Bay with Naomi at the helm for 3 hours before the wind faded. Speed average 3-5 knots on a south wind of about 10 knots.

The 2010 season opened with a short one hour cruise around Willoughby Bay under clear skies and mid-70 degree temps. Very light wind from southwest. Mounted the motor which started right up after a thorough winterizing. Dodged at least 10,000 crab pots. Uneventful RTB.

Leisurely sail in ideal conditions out of Willoughby Harbor Marina. Underway 09 ish in 60+ degree temps and about 10 kts of SW wind. Swilling hot tea around Willoughby we eventually headed out to the channel were we drifted about until chased away by a large, outbound merchant out of Panama. Reminded again that TS Channel makes a stbd bend past the carrier piers! Wind dropped and so we motored in finding the bottom twice in the vicinity of the Willoughby entrance buoy. Passed the Song Sung Blue heading outbound. Lunch on the deck toasting a wonderful morning. Yes!

With a crew of three departed Salt Ponds at 09:08 on a cool, breezy, clear day enroute to new home at Willoughby Harbor Marina. 10+ Kt wind from NE and following sea moved us along at 5 kts toward Thimble Shoals Light. After a rusty tack to the SW we picked up speed headed for the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and then eased to port with a nice jibe into Willoughby Bay. Tied up in new slip A-19 around 11:15 ish. Checked in at the "Grille" for a cold Landshark and a visit to combo 134.

Underway at about 11:15 for a lazy, sunny sail out of Salt Ponds took the crew into the Bay north of TSL for a few blissful hours. Explored the edges of the Salt Ponds channel on the way out. Sunning on the foredeck, observing the GPS speed trying to break 1 kt, and discussing future maintenance plans filled the time as we relaxed in the 60+ degree weather. Uneventful return to slip G-3 followed by a sumptuous lunch at "Waters Edge". Capped off the afternoon with a tour of the Burwellian's new deck and some facial creme samples. This is livin'!